AMBERGRIS. 93 



squid are often seen floating on the sen, which whalers consider 

 indicate good whale-ground."* 



Apropos to this subject is the following " Xote on the Origin 

 of Ambergris," published by Mr. H. Crosse in Jour. ConrJnjL 

 (:\ ser., iii. i>o4, 1S<>3): 



All the world is acquainted with ambergris, so frequently used 

 as :i perfume, either singly or in combinal ion with other sub- 

 stances; but the singular conditions under which it is produced 

 are by no means so well known. It is produced by the cetaceans 

 called cachelois. and is siinj)ly a resuh of digestion, a sort of 

 imesiinal calculus, a coprolite. This has been confirmed by 

 numerous observers, including both scientific men and whalers. 

 It is formed into balls of various sixes in the digestive canal and 

 appears with the excrement. It is probably caused by an un- 

 healthy stale of the animal, as ihe quantity differs in different 

 individuals from a few to a hundred kilogrammes, according to 

 whalers, and some animals have none. It is encountered in 

 many paris of the world, floating on the surface of the water, 

 than which h is much lighter. And now for the connection of 

 this substance with our subject. The (Vtaceans consume large 

 quantities of cephalopoda as food, and many of these latter when 

 living exhale a strong odor of musk; among these may be espe- 

 cially mentioned Eb'donr mowhfifuH. and the gigantic Loli<i<> 

 lloin/eri. Now amidst the ambergris are found portions of the 

 corneous mandibles of cephalopods. which the digestion of the 

 whale has not been able to destroy. The ambergris is then.' 

 without the least doubt, the result of Hie intemperate eaiiug of 

 cephalopods. Some of our readers who appreciate the delicate 

 perfume of ambergris, will scarcely thank us for revealing to 

 them in what a singular laboratory it is really prepared ; but we 

 cannot change ihe reality of tilings and such persons can. if it- 

 seem good to them, employ for the future perfumes of less pro- 

 saic origin. 



Cuttle-fish are used so extensively for bait at Newfoundland, 

 'hai half of all the cod taken is fished with them. The cuttle 

 occurs "in vast abundance, but ai different times on different 



coasts; for example, at St. Pierre in July, on the southern coasts 



Am. Naturalist, vii, DO, 1S7:J. 



